Dharavi Redevelopment Project Uses Digital Twin Tech to Verify Mumbai Slum Residents
Authorities executing the Dharavi redevelopment project in Mumbai have implemented "digital twin" technology to map the locality and verify the eligibility of local residents for rehabilitation. The digital twin, which acts as an exact 3-D replica of present-day Dharavi, is being used to streamline the verification of resident documents and establish claims to free or rental housing.
Adani Realty group, the lead developer for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), has used this technology to capture and maintain records for every household in the area. According to a spokesperson for Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (NMDPL), the special-purpose vehicle executing the project, the digital mapping is being used to establish claims of residents to free or rental housing by capturing documents, including litigations.
The digital twin is currently being utilized by the DRP and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to verify documents before issuing the final annexure two list, which finalizes the eligibility of slum dwellers. An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, explained that the digital twin is an exact replica of present-day Dharavi. The official added that when the digital replica is pulled up, it reveals every detail of the structure and the residents of that specific unit.
To build the digital twin, authorities initially used drones to survey the entire 621 acres of the slum. This initial drone survey helped identify 1.25 lakh units. Following this, a ground survey of the lanes was conducted using LiDAR technology. This helped capture specific lane details, including the number of structures, the number of floors, and whether the structures were commercial or residential. The survey revealed that there are, on average, 150 huts in every lane.
A digital map was then prepared to host a 3-D model of every tenement. This model includes details such as size, ownership, and the documents produced by the residents. All of this information has been integrated into a mobile application.
Dharavi is divided into five sectors, with additional railway land at Matunga identified as sector six, which adjoins sectors one and five. Surveyors equipped with tablets use the application during door-to-door surveys to enter resident details and document evidence. Every unit in the township has been assigned a unique identity number to streamline the verification.
